Collapsible bin

ABSTRACT

A collapsible bin ( 10 ) is described which includes side walls ( 11 ) and a base ( 12 ). The side walls ( 11 ) are adapted to receive an adjacent side wall ( 11 ) at each corner in an interengaging arrangement ( 15/16 ) and, to secure the side walls ( 11 ), an elongate strap element ( 14 ) is provided to surround the walls ( 11 ) during assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a collapsible bin, particularly for use in the fruit industry.

[0002] When picking, storing or transporting large quantities of fruit it has long been common practice to deposit fruit directly into a relatively large walled pallet that holds several thousand fruit (eg. apples or kiwifruit). The walled pallet is simply referred to as a ‘bin’.

[0003] Fruit bins are generally of wooden construction and nailed together in a permanent box shape for use, transport and then eventual return for future use.

[0004] The major problem a ‘fixed’ bin construction poses is in the “return for future use” phase of its life cycle. Exported produce is now often shipped in bulk bins for packing at a destination coolstore. The return of empty bins back to the country of origin incurs a large cost. It is important to note that discarding the bins is not an option in many countries because of the high cost of waste disposal.

[0005] In an effort to solve this problem several attempts at producing a collapsible bin have been made. The return shipping costs of a collapsible bin are greatly reduced because the components of a bin can be more tightly packed. However, previous attempts at developing a collapsible bin have fallen short of providing a sufficient standard in the basic requirements of ease of use and strength equivalent to that of a fixed bin construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible bin that is stable when assembled and is easy to use or at least provides the industry with a suitable alternative to available bins.

[0007] In one broad aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible bin including side walls and a base, said side walls being adapted to receive an adjacent side wall at each corner in an interengaging arrangement wherein an elongate element is provided to surround the interengaging side walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of the collapsible bin according to the present invention,

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nail plate used for fixing the side walls to the base according to the present invention,

[0010]FIG. 3 is a plan view of an individual side wall, and

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the collapsible bin according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The collapsible bin of the present invention will now be described in its preferred embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several further embodiments will be possible which remain within the scope and spirit of the invention as it is intended.

[0013]FIG. 1 illustrates a general view of a collapsible bin 10 where all the components are visible. The bin 10 is principally comprised of four side walls 11, a base 12, connectors 13 preferably of nail plate form (as herein described) and a pair of straps 14.

[0014] The base 12 in this embodiment is in the form of a standard pallet construction which can be used with fork hoist type lifting apparatus. It is intended that, when used in the fruit industry, the pallet 12 would go on to further transport uses (eg. for packed fruit to be stored upon) after a bin is received at a destination coolstore. The remainder of disassembled components may then be returned to the point of origin for combining with a new pallet base.

[0015] For alternative applications the base 12 may be configured differently.

[0016] Each of the four side walls 11 are, in the preferred form, of substantially equivalent construction. FIG. 3 best illustrates an individual plan view of a side wall 11 where detail of each end is shown.

[0017] The main length of the side wall 11 is made up of a plurality of elongate elements or panels 11 a (preferably four in number) which are suitably attached (eg. nailed) to transverse elements 11 b and 11 c which in the assembled form of the bin extend substantially perpendicular to base 12.

[0018] Elements 11 b and 11 c define the height of the side wall 11 and provide the construction by which interlocking of adjacent walls is possible as will be described hereinafter.

[0019] At one end of the side wall 11 is located the element 11 b which is substantially the same thickness as panels 11 a to which it is nailed. The element 11 b overhangs panel 11 a creating a projection 15 which fits into groove 16 on an adjacent side wall as illustrated by FIG. 1. The grooved portion 16 is found in element 11 c located at the other end of the side wall 11.

[0020] The orientation of the groove 16 is substantially 90° to the projection 15 on the same sidewall 11 in order to create a suitable squared corner when the groove 16 interfits with projection 15 of another sidewall 11 when the side walls 11 are assembled together.

[0021] Other embodiments (not illustrated) may provide alternative interengaging or interlocking shapes for the

[0022] The embodiment illustrated has proven to be particularly effective because the four interengaged walls form a strong corner bond which remains relatively stable even before straps 14 are applied (as is described below).

[0023]FIG. 1 best illustrates the assembly method where four side walls 11 are arranged in a substantially square shape on the base 12 (in cases where a more rectangular shape is desired the two opposing side walls will be longer). Each projection 15 engages (preferably in an interference fit) into the corresponding groove 16 on the next adjacent sidewall to complete the wall assembly.

[0024] In order to secure a side wall 11 onto the base 12, two corner plates or connectors 13 are provided on each side wall 11 to engage with base 12. The connector 13 is preferably in the form of a nail plate 13 which is illustrated in more detail by FIG. 2.

[0025] Nail plate 13 includes a plurality of sharp projections 13 a which can be hammered into the wooden lower panel 11 a of a side wall 11. Below projections 13 a is a return flange 13 b which, in use, hooks under an edge of the base 12. Therefore, as shown by FIG. 1, two nail plates 13 spaced at an interval on each side wall 11 are sufficient to secure it to base 12.

[0026] Nail plates 13 are preferably constructed of heavy duty steel for the requisite strength.

[0027] Finally, to lock the four side walls 11 in place, an elongate element or strap 14 is then passed around the walls 11 and fastened tightly (point F on FIG. 1).

[0028] The bin 10 is now secure enough to be filled with produce. It has been found that the arrangement of the interengaging projections 15 and grooves 16 is easily sufficient to support the weight of fruit from within the bin 10. The strap 14 creates the necessary force to maintain the interengagement of the walls 11.

[0029] Once assembled the bin can withstand reasonable pressure from inside and out.

[0030] The strap 14 may be a steel ribbon but preferably is in the form of a standard plastic type which can be heat welded, buckled or clipped together under pressure. One strap is sufficient for holding the walls together but two (as illustrated in FIG. 1) or more may be used as a precaution against failure.

[0031] In future embodiments a purpose built strap may be adopted for enabling quick-release and re-use.

[0032]FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the collapsible bin wherein the connectors 13 are in the form of corner plates which are nailed/screwed to corners of the side walls 11 and base 12 simultaneously. This construction is not preferred because, over time, excessive nailing/screwing into the wooden construction will weaken the timber. Also, the nails/screws must be removed for disassembly which involves an extra operation.

[0033] When the bin 10 is empty and must be returned for re-use the strap 14 can be cut or otherwise removed and the side walls 11 disengaged. The bin effectively then collapses and all the components may be stacked flat. One will appreciate the considerable space saving in shipping a stacked bin according to the present invention compared to an empty fixed bin.

[0034] The bin is generally to be constructed from wood but the concept of the collapsible system could be applied to bins made from any material where space saving is a critical issue.

[0035] The groove channels may be routered out of the end element 11 c or built up from layers.

[0036] The collapsible bin of the present invention is intended for use at a fruit coolstore for storing/transporting fruit after grading. In most cases standard fixed bins will be used for storing the freshly picked fruit and subsequent transport to the coolstore. The economics of the present invention come into play where the fruit must be shipped internationally as the cost of returning empty fixed bins becomes prohibitive.

[0037] The novel features of construction and function of the collapsible bin according to the present invention are defined in and by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible bin including side walls and a base, said side walls being adapted to receive an adjacent side wall at each corner in an interengaging arrangement wherein an elongate element is provided to surround the interengaging side walls.
 2. The collapsible bin of claim 1 wherein the interengaging arrangement is a tongue-in-groove construction.
 3. The collapsible bin of claim 1 or 2 wherein there are four side walls.
 4. The collapsible bin of claim 1 wherein the base is a standard pallet construction capable of receiving a fork hoist apparatus.
 5. The collapsible bin of claim 1 further including connector means for releasable connecting of the side walls to the base.
 6. The collapsible bin of claim 1 further including a connector means for each side wall to connect said side wall to the base.
 7. The collapsible bin of claim 6 wherein each connector means includes a fastening portion for fastening of the connector to the base or side wall and an engagement portion for engaging with the side wall or base as the case may be.
 8. The collapsible bin of claim 7 wherein the fastening portion includes apertures through which fasteners can locate.
 9. The collapsible bin of claim 7 wherein the fastening portion includes a plurality of integrally formed nailing elements.
 10. The collapsible bin of claim 7 wherein the engagement portion is a flange located substantially transverse to the plane in which the fastening portion lies.
 11. The collapsible bin of claim 7 wherein two connector means are provided for each side wall.
 12. The collapsible bin of claim 11 wherein each connector means is fastened by the fastening portion to the side wall adjacent the edge of the side wall which engages with the edge of an adjacent side wall to form a corner.
 13. The collapsible bin of claim 12 wherein the engagement portion of the connector means engages with an edge of the base.
 14. The collapsible bin of claim 1 wherein the elongate element is in the form of a strap secured about the bin by securing or connecting means.
 15. The collapsible bin of claim 1 wherein the elongate element is in the form of a strap adapted for quick release and re-use.
 16. The collapsible bin of claim 1 wherein the side walls are constructed substantially of wood.
 17. The collapsible bin of claim 1 wherein the interengaging arrangement is such as to prevent relative inward movement of the edge of the side walls at a corner.
 18. A method of constructing a collapsible bin including the steps of arranging four side walls to form a polygonal container shape upon a pallet base and securing said side walls together by the use of a strapping element about the substantial periphery of said side walls.
 19. The method of constructing a collapsible bin as claimed in claim 18 further including the step of coupling the lowermost part of each side wall to the pallet base by releasable connector means. 